Military presents Sayyaf member suspected of kidnapping Americans, killing civilians

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military presented to the media yesterday a captured Abu Sayyaf terrorist suspect who had allegedly taken part in the kidnapping of three American tourists and the massacre of civilians in two barangays in Basilan five years ago.

Brig. Gen. Reymundo Ferrer, Basilan Army commander, said Komoni Pael, alias Abu Bara, was arrested by military intelligence agents in Barangay Kumalarang in Isabela City last Monday.

"Surveillance had been conducted by our combined Army and naval intelligence groups that led to the arrest of the suspect who was laying low from the military hunt for years until his arrest Monday," he said.

Brig. Gen. Francisco Callelero, Armed Forces Southern Command deputy chief, said Pael was subjected to tactical interrogation by military intelligence before being presented to reporters.

"The investigation led to the discovery of other terroristic activities he was involved," he said.

Callelero said Pael, who carries a P150,000 bounty, was one of the Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the wanted list of the Department of National Defense and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

"We are expecting more to fall into the long arms of the law in the coming days," he said.

Pael was indicted for the massacre of 10 men in Barangay Balobo in Lamitan, Basilan and the beheading of five farmers in Tairan, Lantawan at the height of the Dos Palmas hostage taking incident in 2001.

The Abu Sayyaf had snatched three American and 17 Filipino tourists from a posh resort off Palawan.

Pael was also tagged in the kidnapping of teachers, students and Catholic priest Fr. Rhoel Gallardo in Punoh Mahaji, Sumisip in March 2000.

Gallardo was killed by the Abu Sayyaf, along with with three other male teachers.

During the presentation, Pael did not comment on media queries regarding his involvement in the massacre of villagers and the kidnapping of three Americans.

Pael was the eighth Abu Sayyaf terrorist to fall after a three-week military crackdown in Western Mindanao following the fall of Abu Sayyaf bomber Amil Hamja Ajijul and the arrest of four other suspects.

Top Abu Sayyaf commander Al-Sharie Amirrudin Mohammad Nur, alias Abu Omar, was arrested recently in his beachfront hideout in Zamboanga City, while another wanted terrorist, Abdusalih Dimah, was captured in Basilan.

The military said about 100 Abu Sayyaf terrorists involved in the Palawan kidnapping and other terroristic activities in Basilan have remained at large.